For Internship Questions

Internships are significant professional development opportunities that allow graduate students to work inside an arts organization and to experience real-world situations that test arts management concepts and challenge management skills. During internships, students investigate organizational strategies and structures, develop professional networks, have their work evaluated and sharpen career focus through key concepts, comparative analysis, and tips and tools for professional success.

Internships also require a partnership between the student, host organization and the AU Arts Management program. In the classroom, students analyze and reflect on a relevant professional experience in an organized way. At the office, they produce complete and effective work products. On campus, our academic community benefits when students and host organizations share learning, examples and feedback with the program. Some host organizations serve year after year, and AU alumni often become internship supervisors later in their careers. In that sense, one successful internship paves the way for future students and colleagues.

As a core component of the American University Arts Management curriculum, each student is required to complete a significant internship project and successfully complete a three-credit course. A credit-worthy internship includes working a minimum of 200 hours per semester, organized into a weekly schedule for a full 14-week semester. Students may complete an internship over the summer, or during the fall or spring semesters.